ISL final on Dec. 20

OUR BUREAU

Calcutta: It would be a clash between Spanish World Cupper Luis Garcia and Arsenal legend Fredrik Ljungberg when Atletico de Kolkata square off with Mumbai City FC in the opening match of the inaugural Indian Super League, at the Salt Lake Stadium, here, on October 12.

The fixtures of the much-anticipated tournament were announced on Wednesday. With a total of 61 games spread across 70 days, the league stage will witness 56 games on home and away format, followed by two-legged semi-finals. The final is scheduled for December 20.

Atletico de Kolkata next play the Delhi Dynamos FC, which comprise Italian World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero, on October 18 and that too will be their home encounter. The city-based team then travels to Goa for the game against FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Fatorda, on October 23.

Delhi Dynamos FC, will host the tournament’s second match when they play FC Pune City on October 13 in the capital. The action then moves on to the North-East, in Guwahati, as NUFC take on Kerala Blasters FC on October 15.

The semi-finals will start from December 13 with the top four teams qualifying for the knockout stage. The semi-finals and the final will all be played at a neutral venue.